The Third-Rate Academy Villain Who Refuses to Become a Beggar

The academy reopened.

As students who had left for their homes all returned, the once quiet academy began to bustle with activity again.

"I look forward to working with you this semester as well."

"Likewise."

Gerhard Goldenheim attended the first pair lecture of the second semester together with Luina Berchef.

The subject was "The Study of Magical Beasts and Monsters." But since it was the first day, there wasn't much substance.

The lecture ended with just a brief overview of the upcoming plans.

"Gerhard."

"Rudger."

"I heard what happened. Quite a serious incident, I hear. They say there was a malignant creature in the academy?"

Rudger approached discreetly and whispered.

'So the news has spread.'

The matter of the demon was too significant for the headmaster to handle alone. Even though he was an Arch Mage of extraordinary power and influence—a magical authority whom even the Emperor of the Empire would hesitate to provoke directly—this situation extended beyond mere magical threats. It carried political implications that could destabilize the delicate balance between the noble houses if handled improperly.

However, the headmaster maintained his celebrated neutrality, having never aligned himself with any particular faction throughout his long tenure. This independence had served him well over the decades. So rather than limiting the information to specific families who might exploit it for advantage, he made the prudent decision to relay the news equally to all the Grand Duke families, preserving both transparency and balance of power.

The Goldenheim family was no exception to this careful distribution of knowledge. Just before the school reopened its magnificent gates for the new semester, Gerhard received an elegantly sealed letter from his father—the meticulous handwriting unmistakable—stating that disturbing whispers had reached even their distant estate about the malignant creature that had infiltrated the academy's hallowed grounds. The letter carried with it not just information, but the weight of expectation that Gerhard would remain vigilant and represent family interests in whatever might develop from this alarming incident.

"A malignant creature. You can't imagine how shocked I was when I first heard about it."

You must have been even more shocked, having experienced it firsthand.

"What was it like? Those garbage followers of demons who couldn't forget them?"

"This doesn't seem like the right place to discuss it."

"It's fine. I've already cast a spell to block our conversation."

"Do I really need to explain that's not what I meant?"

"Then will you only answer if I directly ask what the malignant creatures were like?"

Is that supposed to be a question?

"Of course not, Rudger Schwaben."

Gerhard extended his hand.

"But if you pay a reasonable price, I wouldn't mind sharing."

As a merchant can sell anything, 'information' is no exception.

"...Right, you were that kind of person. I momentarily forgot after being apart during the break."

Rudger let out a hollow laugh.

"So, how much do you want?"

"That depends on your sincerity."

"That sounds like the quality of your information will depend on my sincerity?"

"As expected of a prince, no need to explain things twice."

Rudger let out a deep sigh at Gerhard's cunning.

"Then how much would it take to ensure you don't open your mouth to others?"

"Is there really a need for that? You must already know I wasn't alone."

The headmaster might not have explicitly mentioned who had encountered the malignant creatures, but the academy was full of agents from various families.

It was impossible to keep it completely hidden, and there was no intention to do so.

"Let me rephrase. How much would it take to silence everyone who encountered the malignant creature along with you?"

"One trillion gold."

"...Are you insane?"

"You're the insane one for asking the impossible."

"I thought you said nothing is impossible if you have the money?"

"Yes, and that's why I'm saying if you give me one trillion gold, I'll find a way to make it happen."

Tsk, Rudger clicked his tongue briefly.

A thick pouch was placed on Gerhard's palm. Inside were plenty of gold coins.

"Then at least tell me what you know."

"Let's move somewhere else first. Even with sound blocked, we're drawing too much attention here."

Despite being in a corner, they were still at the front of the lecture hall. Many people were glancing their way as they passed by.

"Alright."

Gerhard told him about what he had experienced.

Of course, it wasn't exactly as it happened, but rather a slightly embellished version of what he had told the headmaster.

He changed demons to malignant creatures.

After all, there was no reason to reveal that fact when the headmaster was desperately trying to hide it.

==

After earning some extra income from Rudger, Gerhard organized his future plans.

"Hmm."

The prophecy that had come to him at the right moment had little to do with crisis or demons.

But it was clearly an important future.

For Aint Armian, who needed to win the jousting competition to obtain what the first Emperor had arranged.

And for Gerhard, who now knew all the major winners of both the jousting competition and the magic tournament.

'This is an opportunity to make a fortune.'

The academy festival, where both the jousting competition and the magic tournament took place, was a period where gambling was officially permitted.

Bets could be placed on participants under the academy's supervision, and Gerhard also secretly operated larger betting pools with the academy's tacit approval.

Until now, he had only placed bets on sure things to minimize losses, but knowing the future meant there was no reason not to capitalize on every detail.

'If I play my cards right, I might earn as much as a branch's annual profit.'

One shouldn't dismiss it as merely student competitions.

The academy's founding day celebration was the largest event in scale except for the capital's festival presided over by the Emperor.

The wealth of parents flocking to see their children was beyond imagination.

It wasn't without reason that the academy was called the cradle of the Empire, and it wasn't for nothing that malignant creatures first tried to destroy the academy.

'I don't need to bet on every match.'

The prophecy wasn't that detailed anyway.

But at least he could clearly identify the students who would reach the quarterfinals of each competition, and if he only bet on them, failure would be impossible.

"About six that I expected, and two surprising dark horses."

Not bad. Especially with these two dark horses, he could make quite a profit.

"By the way, I needed to talk to you too."

<Kuung?>

Gerhard extended his finger. Wooden, who had been scurrying around on the table, grabbed his hand and shook it enthusiastically.